Switch actuating attachment for motor vehicle clutch pedals



p z 1937- J. L. BREESE 2,077,511

S WITCH ACTUATING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE CLUTCH BEDALS Filed Nov. 29, 1935 Ill-lw J m Patented Apr. 20', 1937 UNITED STATES swrrcn Ac'rUArmG arracnrm'n'r non .Mo'ron vEnrcLn cw'rcn rEnALs James L. Breese, Santa Fe, Men, assignor to Oil Devices Corporation, Columbus, 0111 corporation oi Illinois Application Nomin te, 1935, {Serial No; tans 3 Claims. .(Cl. 74-480) This invention relates to an improved clutch pedal attachment for operating the starting motor switch of a motor vehicle engine. It is a primary object of the invention to provide simple,

' convenient and eiiicient means whereby through the actuation of the clutch pedal, the engine starting switch may he closed.

In many popular types of motor vehicles, it is customary to provide a foot operated switch for opening and closing the circuit of an engine starting motor. Usually. such switches comprise an actuating portion embodying a small button or plunger which is adapted to be depressed by foot pressure. Frequently such switch buttons or 'plungers are of small diameter and are relatively inaccessibly located so-that it is a matter of some diiiiculty on the part 01' the vehicle driver to locate the button and then actuate the same. Again, it frequently happens in-the operation of 2 notor vehicles, as when a vehicle is ascending a hill and the engine becomes stalled or ceases to operate, that the driver should have both feet engaged simultaneously with the clutch and brake Un or such conditions, it is diflicult to manipulate t e feet in order to operate the starter switch without losing control, of the vehicle. Motor vehicles frequently become stalled under heavy traiiic conditions or where prompt action is necessary, and the ordinary inaccessible starter switch seriously delays the driver in re-starting the engine and expeditiously eilecti'ng desiredand necessary movements of the vehicle. I

Therefore, in accordance with the present inventidn, I have provided a clutch pedal lever'oi sis the motor vehicle with a fixed laterally extend:

ing arm, which when the clutch pedal lever is fully depressed, or rocked to an extreme or movement beyond that normally required in clutch operation, the said arm at its outer end willen- 40 gage with the actuating member oi a starter switch, causing the closing of the starter switch and the electric starting motor circuit connected therewith, thus providing the vehicle operator with greater convenience in governing the start-- 45 ing of an automobile engine and to enable the operation to be-promptly and effectively carried out without delay or incurring the trafllcrisks which such delays mayinvolve. It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for the purpose set forth which shall be simple to install and apply, one which is devoid of small operating parts and mechanical complication, and simple, reliable and eiiicient in service. 'll'br a further understanding oi. the invention,

reference is to be had to the mimwmg description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the floor board of a motor vehicle, showing the customary foot.

controls of such a vehicle together with the starting device comprising the present invention and in operating position in connection with the foot operated clutch cotrol; I I

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line ,II-1I of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the starter arm comprising the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the floor board of a motor vehicle. Beneath and in advance of 'the floor board, there is arranged the usual engine 2', a clutch and fly wheel housing 3, an electric starting motor I andJa transmission housing 5, the operating lever of which having been indi cated at 6. Pivotally mounted as at l on either of the housings 3 or 5 is a clutch pedal lever 8, provided at its lower end with a crank eitension 9 with which is engaged the usual rod it lead-- ing to the clutch'mechanism disposed within the housing 3. The upper laterally and forwardly bent end it of the lever 8 extends through a slot 12 provided in the floor board! and termi==- nates forwardly in a threaded socket i3, Re-

ceived within this socket is a reduced threaded stud I t which extends axially from the ioot= engaging 'disk ii of the lever 8. As usual, the

disk i5 is protected by a rubber covering l8.

Adjacent to the lever 8, there is arranged the usual loot brake operating pedal I1, and disposed between the pedals 8 and I! is the mov able actuating extremity I8 of the starter switch I9 employed in controlling the operation of the starting motor I. In order to operate the plunger extremity l8 of the starting switch directly from the clutch pedal, I have provided a short rigid' metallic arm 20; One end of this arm is formed with an apertured boss M which is adapted to be removably confined between the outenend Ii oi the clutch lever 8 and the back otits foot tion This position may be controlled by oscil- V lating said arm about the axis of the stud M in orderto insure accurate registration between the outer or free end of the arm and the act operated disk Ii, so thht when the disk istightened to assume its normal operating position,

- applied to the clutch pedal ing extremity ll'ofthe'starterswitch. romaintain such registration, the arm is additionally provided with a threaded opening for the reception of a headed screw 22, which latter is adapted to be brought into firm frictional "1 t with the peripheral portion of the-covering It ofthe disk II, asdisclosedinl'lg. 3 so that thearmwillbepdsitivelyandsecin'ebmaintaineddn its required operating position.

Itwillbeobserved thatthearmmaybereadily of a motor vehicle without disturbing existing standards. i As such clutch pedals are manufactured, it is now a standardpractice to removably connect the foot engasingportion of the clutch pedal with the lever extension thereof, so that in applying the armfiit is merely necessary to remove the foot engaging disk, insert the arm over the stud therefor and replace the disk in its proper operating pomtion. The mere tightening of the screw 22 will then complete the connection and at the same time insure proper registration 'of the outei end of the arm with the starter switch.

' The device operates very satisfactorily when I I pedal. I have found that it requires a long or full stroke movement pf the clutch pedal lever to bring the arm 20 into engagement with the starter switch. This movement is materially in excess of that normally required in governing the operation. of the associated clutch mechanism, that there is little or no likelihood of the vehicle driver fully dey pressing the clutch when'the engine I is in oper-' ation. In prior devices for closing the circuit of. a starter motor by clutch. pedal actuation, it has been customary to provide responsive to the suction developed within the intake manifold of the engine for preventing such means from energizing thestarter motor when theinternal combustion engine of the vehicle is in cperation. I have found that such mechanical complication may be entirely avoided and similar convenience and facility obtained by the employment of the device and mechanism set forth and. moreover, this is accomplished in a verysimple manner and at low cost..

What is claimed is:

1. A starter switch operating attachment for motor vehicle clutch pedals comprising an elongated bar apertured at one end to receive the threaded stud of a detachable foot receiving disk carried by the upper end of a clutch pedal lever, whereby to confine said am between said disk and the upper end of said lever so that the outer end of said arm is disposed in registration with an associated starter switch, the said arm being normally spaced from said starter switch to provide for normal clutch operation without contact between the arm and the starter switch.

2. In control mechanism for a motor, vehicle, a clutch pedal lever having a threaded socket formed in the upper end thereof, a foot engaging head for said lever formed axially with a threaded stud disposed to be received within said-socket,

and an arm removably clamped between the end of said lever and said head and radiallyfromthe lattertoregisterwiththeactuating extremityof aswitchcarrledbysaid vehicle. 3. A member for operating the starter switoh of a vehicle provided with a clutch pedal and lever therefor comprising an arm perforated at one end for the reception of a stud formedon the foot engaging disk of the vehicle clutch pedal. said disk servingtoclampsaidarmagainsttheuppcr socketed end of the clutch pedal lever, reeni'orcing means extending longitudinally of'said arm. and

threadedmansniddisktosecuresfld .arm in a position with its outer endin registration with theactuatin'g extremity of said starter switch.

JAKE L 

